The following letters to the editor were published in the March 13 issue of the Lexington Minuteman:

Crocker: Thanks for support, ready to goChange can present opportunities.It is with deep gratitude and appreciation that I humbly accept a seat on the Lexington School Committee. It is my honor to serve our students, teachers, and parents in this new capacity. I look forward to a productive term and will dedicate my efforts in helping to establish proactive communication, transparency, and community engagement as we work together to continue Lexington's history of valued education.The contested School Committee race has demonstrated that our community is eager to have a larger community conversation about our schools. As our School Committee charts a new course, let us all work together as a team to professionally and effectively effect change.Topics of concern reach far beyond those of enrollment, building capacity, and superintendent search. The School Committee's duty is to be mindful of what our community sees as important and to inform and engage as it meets its obligation of budget, school policy, and superintendent evaluation.I wish to offer my gratitude to Ms. Brodner for her time and energy spent on meeting the needs of our students during these past three years. She has served our children with grace and humor.Thank you to my friends, neighbors, and family who had the faith in my qualifications to help me achieve this goal. From sign holding to lawn signs, coffees hosts to graphics, web design to logistics, I will be paying these favors forward for a very long time. Thank you to my entire campaign team led by Suzie Barry and Tanya Morrisett. I appreciate the time and dedication my team gave to my campaign.I invite the community to contact me at judycrocker4lex@gmail.com with any questions or concerns as we work together for Lexington's students.Thank you again for your support.— Judy Crocker, Currier Court

Brodner says thanks, will stay involvedThe election didn't turn out how I would have liked, but I am so incredibly proud of my campaign and grateful, and humbled by the support shown to me by so many across Lexington. Thank you to my wife, Sherry and my two sons – Curt and Eli. Despite what was going on everywhere else I could walk into the house and still feel loved and supported. I had the absolute best team – Jeanne Krieger, Jeri Zeder, Pam Hoffman, JJ Krawczyk, Irene Dondley and Lisah Rhodes – thank you so very much. And thanks to so many others, who contributed either their time or financial resources. I am lucky to have had such outpouring of support.Yes, I received less votes than Judy, but that doesn't make what my supporters did for me any less appreciated. Democracy is messy, and makes our country great. It's easy to appreciate democracy being part of the majority – but the truest test is appreciating it when you are part of the minority. Judy ran a fair campaign, and I congratulate her on her victory. At the end of the day we are one town, and we all want what's best for Lexington, even if we don't always agree on what that is, or how to get there. And just because I'm not going to be on the school committee it does not mean I won't be seen around town. … I will still be an advocate for all voices, not just the loudest ones. I will still try to get as much input as possible and pass that input to decision makers, and I will still be in Town Meeting. I will need to take a little time adjusting to my new role, but I promise you, you have not heard the last from me.— Bonnie Brodner, Trodden Path

Ciccolo says thanks, promises diligenceThank you Lexington. On Monday, March 3, the voters of Lexington elected me to fill one of two seats on the Board of Selectmen. I am extremely proud and honored to have been chosen for this role. I am also humbled by the many volunteers who helped me achieve this victory. There is no adequate way for me to thank everyone for all the assistance I received. We had more than 225 people signed on as supporters of the campaign, and more than 50 active volunteers who stuffed envelopes, held coffees, sent emails, coordinated mailings, distributed yard signs, and held signs in the bitter weather. People's willingness to pitch in and help was awe-inspiring.Campaigning is an uplifting experience because those who participate in the process tend to care deeply about our community. My thanks to all of you who engaged, came out on cold days and nights, and were a part of the dialogue. This is what makes our community stronger. Lexington is blessed to have such an active citizenry.If you did not participate this go-round, I invite you to do so now and in the years ahead. Call me; share your ideas; tell me your stories; bring me your complaints. I will be all ears as I work as hard as I can to represent you. Sitting here now, reading my 192-page briefing package for this week's meeting, I know I have my work cut out for me. However, I promise to work diligently and thoughtfully to be the best selectman that I can be. I hope you will join me in this endeavor and continue the dialog we started during the campaign. Please reach out and stay in touch: www.michelleciccolo.com or mciccololex@gmail.com or 781-330-0730.— Michelle Ciccolo, Shade Street

Armstrong was a great individualFormer President Ronald Reagan once wrote, "Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don't have that problem." I cannot think of a more fitting epitaph for Lexington resident William Armstrong who passed away on March 7.Upon returning from duty in the Pacific after World War II Mr. Armstrong conceived the idea for starting an ambulance company. For close to seven decades he ran a successful business.He lived by a simple code: "If it is not true don't say it, if it is not yours don't take it, and if it is not right don't do it." This was not some make-believe concept you see only in a Walt Disney movie, but rather a way of life that his generation fully embraced.He believed his employees were his greatest asset. In the eight years I was privileged to have worked for him, I witnessed first hand his kindness. When an employee suffered a stroke he insisted that individual remained on payroll. Another employee had family members devastated by the earthquake in Haiti, Mr. Armstrong handed him a personal check to help with any damages. I never forgot the kindness he showed my family after I lost both my parents six days apart. I hadn't been with the company a full year, but for both my parent's wake he sent flowers.To call him a "stand up guy " is an understatement. He came from an era when an employer did not exploit an employee. He was the best the "Greatest Generation" had to offer. I felt blessed to have both known him and to have worked for him. Rest in peace. Semper Fi.— Jay McAleer, Follen Road

LexFarm is looking for a volunteerOur rehab work on the farm stand caused us to remove some barn swallow nests. We need a volunteer (or volunteers) with carpentry skills to build a shelter that will meet the specifications recommended to hold the best possibility of attracting the nesting pairs to build in the new location. We also welcome participation from local birders with knowledge of the species.We have received some advice from the birding community about what form the shelter should take but we need some skilled volunteers to build and have the habitation ready for the birds return. All materials for this project will be provided by LexFarm.For more information please contact Nancy Gold at Nancyanngold@gmail.com.— Nancy Gold, Garfield Street

2020 committee clarifies their reportRegarding "Resident calls for more diverse curriculum" (March 6, 2014), I wish to draw attention to two errors in the report on this topic:(1)The article incorrectly identifies Mr. Narain Bhatia as a member of the 20/20 Vision Subcommittee on Demographic Change.(2) The article incorrectly reports that "[t]he subcommittee believes that the demographic (i.e., the percentage of students of Asian origin) will reach 57 percent by 2024." Our report, available on the town website, makes no projections; it only cites historical data obtained from public sources.— Dan Krupka, Lexington 20/20 Vision Committee

Resident corrects record, explains ideaI am disappointed in the reporting of the diversity curriculum article on page A2 of March 6 edition because of factual errors and combining three separate issues of new school holidays; rapid growth of Asian Americans and its subgroups - Chinese, Indians and Koreans; and the need to increase cross-cultural learning opportunities in our school system. I think the article tried to cover a lot. It quoted three individuals and lost focus. More importantly, it had critical factual errors: 1) I am not a member of Subcommittee on Demographic Change; 2) The subcommittee did not make the reported projections, they are my own analysis; and 3) The Islamic holiday is Eid and not Kei.I had extended discussion about the need for our graduates to know about international cultures because this would not only enrich their learning experiences but also add to their preparation for the global economy. We have enough cultural resources in our community that could and should be mobilized to help. Globalization is growing rapidly and International cultural awareness has become valuable asset for those who seek jobs in the global marketplace. This idea was not properly developed instead it was just tagged on to an example of school holidays. Recognizing cultural school holidays is necessary but that should be part of a much larger effort needed to create effective cross-cultural learning opportunities. We should recognize that the rapid growth of Asian subgroups -Chinese, Indians and Koreans - is most likely going to continue because these groups highly value education and therefore Lexington is their obvious choice. Asian school enrollment is now 32 percent and could be much higher as we move forward. We should, therefore, recognize the urgent need to work towards two important goals: 1) significantly increase participation of Asian subgroups in town affairs and 2) significantly increase cross-cultural learning opportunities in our school system.— Narain Bhatia, Nickerson Road